Memory type automatic seat adjuster



Oct. 1, 1963 J. PlcKLEs MEMORY TYPE AUTOMATIC sEAT ADJUsTER 5 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed June 4, 1958 |11 1| .full ITI/ ,n am

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INVENTOR.

JOSEPH PICKLES ATTORN EYS Oct. 1, 1963 J. PICKLES MEMORY TYPE: AUTOMATIC SEAT Mms'rm 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 4. 1958 ATTO RN EVS Oct. 1, 1963 J. PICKLES MEHORY TYPE AUTOMATIC SEAT ADJUSI'ER Original Filed June 4, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Tl., `lf nl;

J. PICKLES mDRY TYPE AUTQMTIC SEAT ADJUSI'ER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 rgnal Filed June 4. 195B FIG.6.

FIGB.

FIGJO.

INVENNR.

FIG. 9.

Josera cues STO HIS CONTROL SWITCH HER CONTROL SWITCH o cf. 1,1963

J. PlcKLEs 'MEIIIIORY TYPE AUTOMATIC SEAT ADJUSTER Original Filed June 4, 1958 KISS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.||.

IN VEN TOR.

JOSEPH ICKLES ATTORNES United States Patent C) 739,722, June 4, This appiication Nov. 20, 1961, Ser. No.

16 Claims. (Cl. 248-394) The present invention relates to a memory type automatic seat adjuster.

This application is a continuation application of applicants copending application Serial No. 739,722, led lune 4, 1958, now abandoned. Applicant is the inventor of the mechanical portion of the disclosure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic seat adjuster for automotive vehicles capable of causing movement of the seat to a fully retracted and lowered position to :facilitate entrance or exit of an occupant to or from the vehicle, in conjunction with control means including a single manually operated switch which when energized restores the sea-t to a predetermined intermediate adjusted position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system as described in the preceding paragraph comprising manually operated switch means for restoring the vehicle seat to either of two intermediate positions.

It is a further object of ythe present invention to provide a memory control system for an automatically adjustable vehicle seat comprising means for establishing a plurality ot independent intermediate adjusted positions, manually operated control means for shifting the seat to a fully retracted and lowered position, and manually operably switch means eiective when energized to initiate return movement of the seat to a preselected intermediate adjusted position, and automatically operated means for terminating movement of the seat when it reaches predetermined intermediate adjusted position.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a control system including a plurality of movable control members, means operable in response to movement of the seat to a predetermined intermediate adjusted position to eiect a corresponding movement of one or more of seid members, said members having yieldable elements thereon, switch actuators releasably engageable with said yieldable elements, and switches associated with said switch actuators having as a normal condition preferably a normally open condition, when the yassociated ones oi said members are in predetermined adjusted position.

It is a fur-ther object of the present invention to provide a pair of yieldable elements on each of said members, a switch actuator associated with each of said yieldable elements, and a switch controlled by each of said switch actuators to enable establishing two intermediate adjusted seat posltions.

It is a further object ofthe present invention to provide an automatic memory type seat control system including single manual control means for effecting movement of the seat to fully retracted and lowered position, and a pair of additional switch means selectively operable to effect re-adjustment of the sea-t from fully retracted and lowered position to either of two preset intermediate adjusted positions.

Itis a further object of the present invention to provide seat control means including mechanism for setting control means to establish two separate intermediate adjusted seat positions, a pair of manually operable switches each eiective when actuated to initiate operation of adjusting mechanism to move the seat from any other position to a Cil selected one of said intermediate adjusted positions, and means for terminating operation of the seat adjusting mechanism when the seat reaches its predetermined adjusted position.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments or the invention, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partial elevational view of the seat supporting and adjusting mechanism.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary partly broken away top View showing the connection from a motor through a clutch and gear box` to kworm and -wormgears actuating rack driving pinions.

FIGURE Z-A is a top view partly broken away of the clutch and gear boX shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE Z-B is a fragmentary section view of the clutch and gear box shown in FIGURE Z-A taken on line 2B-2B in FIGURE Z-C.

FIGURE 2-C is an end View ofthe clutch and gear box of FIGURE 2-A with the end cover removed.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a memory control device and its mechanical connections to the adjustable seat structure.

FIGURE 4 is 4a fragmentary vertical section on the line 4 4-, FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section of the memory control device.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the position setting device.

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of a spring retainer plate used in the assembly shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view of a toothed sector employed in the assembly of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view of a position responsive setting lever employed in the assembly of FIG- URE 6.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary section on the line lli- 10, FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a circuit diagram of a circuit suitable for employing the mechanism in eiiecting adjustment of the seat.

VReferring now to the drawings, the memory control system for seat adjustment is illustrated as applied to a seatv in which adjustment is eifected by providing a lower slide movable fore and aft of the vehicle on Xed rails, and seat support frame elements are pivoted by levers at the liront and rear ends to lthe slide. Obviously, fore and aft movement of the slide effects fore and ait adjustment of a seat mounted on the seat frame elements. The levers which interconnect the iront and rear ends of the slide and seat frame elements are preferably bell type crank levers -so connected as to cause rocking movement of the levers to produce generally up and down movement of the corresponding ends of the seat frame elements. With this arrangement i-t is of course apparent that by suitably actuating the levers at both the front and rear of the seat frame elements, the sea-t may be raised or lowered. If only one of such levers is actuated the seat is tilted either forwardly or rearwardly.

The foregoing seat adjusting mechanism is best illustrated in FIGURE l Where one of the stationary rails or tracks is indicated at 10 adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to the floor of the vehicle. It will be course be understood that a pair of Isuch rails are provided located adjacent opposite ends of the seat and similarly, a pair of slides and seat frame elements are also provided.

Mounted Vfor fore and aft adjustment on the stationary rail or track 10 is a slide 12, suitable rollers for providing for relatively VfreeV adjustment of the slide' 12 being shown at 14. Adjacent the forward end of the slide 12 is an upstanding ear 16 affording a pivot mounting as indicated at 18 for a bell crank lever 28 having a lifting arm 22 and an actuating arm 24. Pivotally connected, as indicated at 25, to the lifting arm 22 of the bell crank lever 20 is a depending arm 26 of the seat frame element 28.

Similarly, a pivot mounting 30 is provided adjacent the rear end of the slide 12 to which is secured a bell crank lever 32 having an actuating arm 34 and a lift arm 36. The lift arm 36 has pivotally connected thereto, as indicated at 38, a lifting link 40 the upper end of which is pivotally connected, as indicated at 42, to the rear end of the seat frame element 28.

In order to effect power actuation of the seat to various adjusted positions, there is provided for movement with the slide 12 a drive unit 44 having therein three pinions 72, 72a and 72b, FIGURE 2, each of which is in mesh with an actuating rack. The three actuating racks are shown at 46, 48 and Sil. The rack 46 at its forward end is pivotally connected as indicated at 52 to the actuating arm 24 of the front lift bell crank lever 20. The rack 48 is pivotally connected as indicated at S4 to a stationary post 56 which may be connected to the stationary rail or track member 10, or may be connected directly to the oor of the vehicle. The rack 50 is pivotally connected as indicated at 58 to the actuating arm 34 of the rear lift bell crank lever 32.

Each of the three pinions in mesh with the racks 46, 48 and Si) is separately actuated and in accordance with the present invention a single electric motor may be provided selectively coupled to one or more of the pinions by flexible drive shafts which are selectively clutched to the transmission means. One such single motor multiple drive unit is fully set forth in Patent No. 2,886,094 and will therefore be considered only brieily herein. Reference is made to the cited patent for a detailed consideration of the particular single motor multiple drive unit illustrated.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, Z-A, Z-B and 2-C there is shown a motor 60 having an output 62 connected to a gear and clutch box indicated generally at 64. Within the box 64 are a plurality of intermeshing gears 63, 63a and 63h driven from the motor 60 each of which is connected through a solenoid actuated clutch 65, 65a and 65h to a ilexible drive cable 66, 66a and 66b leading to a worm 68, 68a and 68h in mesh with a worm gear 70, 78a and 7Gb keyed or otherwise secured to a pinion 72 which is in mesh with one of the racks 46, 48 or 50, as shown in FIGURE 2. It will be apparent that by operation of suitable electrical circuitry, the motor 68 may be energized and the appropriate one or more of the solenoids within the box 64 energized to connect the motor to the corresponding ilexible drive cable which in turn effects actuation of a corresponding one of the racks.

Referring now to FIGURES 3-10 there is shown the memory control device which is adapted to be carried by and hence movable with the seat or a seat frame element 28. The memory device includes three setting levers 74, 76 and 78. The lever 74 is connected by a link S9 to the actuating arm 24 of the front lift bell crank lever 20. The lever 76 is connected by a link 82 to the actuating arm 34 of the rear lifting bell crank lever 32. The third lever 78 is connected by a link 84 to the stationary post 56 carried by the stationary rail or track or a similar post iixedly mounted on the oor of the vehicle. The links 80, 82 and 84 are connected to the bell crank lever 20, actuating arm 34 and post 56 in the same manner as they are connected to levers 74, 76 and 78, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5.

From the foregoing it will be seen that for each of the infinite number of intermediate positions which may be occupied by the adjustable vehicle seat, there will be corresponding positions of the setting levers 74, '76 and 78.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 6-10, each of the levers 74, 76 and 73 extend from generally cylindrical discs 86 provided with central openings by means of which they are mounted for rotation on a tubular support or bearing member 88. Rigidly affixed to op posite sides of the discs 86 are plates 90 provided with elongated arcuate slots 92. As best seen in FIGURE 9, each of the discs 86 is provided with similar arcuate recesses 94 which are of arcuate cross-section as best seen in FIGURE 10.

Mounted for rotation with respect to discs 86 on bearing member 88 on opposite sides of each of the discs S6 and between the discs and the adjacent plates 90 are a pair of toothed sectors 98. Each of the toothed sectors, as best illustrated in FIGURE 8, is provided with an elongated arcuate slot 160. Received in the slot in the toothed sectors 98 are coil compression springs 102. The compression springs extend partly into the arcuate slots 92 in the plates 90 and are partly received in the arcuate recesses 94 at the opposite sides of the discs 86. With the parts in the position illustrated in FIGUREl 6 the ends of the arcuate slots 160 are not in alignment with the ends of the slots 92 and arcuate recesses 94 which are in alignment. It will be apparent that in this condition the spring 182 is under appreciable compression and the sectors are spring biased to return to a position in which the ends of the arcuate slots 100 therein are in alignment with the ends of theV recesses'94 and slots 92. However, relative angular movement between the discs 86 and the associated arms 74, 76 or 78 which are xed in relation to either or both of the toothed sectors associated therewith is permitted. It may be mentioned at this time that the plates 90 which are located at opposite sides of each of the discs 86 are connected thereto -by a linger 104 which is received in a recessed seat 106, the seats being located at opposite sides of each of the discs 86 and each pair of seats together forming an aperture through the individual discs 86 as shown in FIG-- URES 6 and 9.

The memory device comprises a housing 108 in which are located six switch actuating rack bars 110, one being associated with each of the toothed sectors. The rack bars have ears112 at one end which form a loose pivot support and permits limited longitudinal movement thereof. The opposite end of each of the rack bars, as indicated at 114, is vertically movable in a slot 116 in the housing 108. Suitable spring means such for example as indicated at 118 biases the several rack bars upwardly. Mechanically operable means indicated at 120 are provided for depressing one rack bar associated with each of the three discs and lever devices. As indicated, the actuator comprises a slotted cylinder mounted for rotation about its axis 121 and having abutments 122 engageable with one of the rack bars associated with three of the levers, and abutments 124 associated with the remaining rack. bars and levers. A section of the cylinder 120 is shown in FIGURE 4. It will be understood that three such sections in axial alignment are provided in connection With the three sets of rack ybars associated with the three levers 74, 76 and 78. The three sections of cylinder 120 are rotatable about the common axis 121 by any convenient means such as a drive cable 123 attached at one end to the end section of cylinder 120 and at the other end to suitable drive means (not shown).

In the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 each of the rack bars is permitted limited longitudinal move-- ment. Provided in the housing 108 in association with each of the rack bars 118 are switches S1, S2, S3, S4,`

S5 and S6. In FIGURE 3 it is assumed that the switch is S1 and it comprises contacts Sla and Slb, together with an intermediate movable contact Slc carried by a spring arm connected to the rack bar 110. With the rack bar in the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 it will be noted that the intermediate contact Slc of the switch S1 is spaced from the two contacts Sla and SIb. However, limited movement of the rackV in either direction will close the center contact with either of the contacts Sia or Slb, at which time the sector, lever and spring may be as seen in FIGURE 6.

if it is assumed that the rack bar 110 is associated with a sector 9S associated with the lever 74, it will be apparent that operation of the rack 46 driven by worm gear 68a which produces rocking movement of the lever 2@ in either direction from the illustrated position will initially cause longitudinal movement of the rack bar 110 so as to close one of the switch contacts Sla, Slc, or Sib, Slc. Since the contact Slc is carried by a flexible arm, the contacts `will remain closed while the rack bar llt) undergoes its relatively limited longitudinal movement. Thereafter, continued movement of the lever 29 will result in continued angular movement of the lever arm '74. -At this time the rack bar llt) is prevented from moving and accordingly the spring 102 becomes compressed as the end of the recess 94 in the disc 86 and the end of the slot 92 in the plate 9G carry one end of the spring away from one end of the slot 100 in the toothed sector GS. So long as the seat remains out of adjustment the spring will remain compressed and the switch Sl will remain closed in one direction or the other. However, when the seat is brought back so that the lever 2? occupies the position which it initially oecupied, the intermediate switch contact Sile resumes its neutral intermediate position as shown in FIGURE 3.

Means are provided for operating the setting levers 74, 75 and 78 to establish a memory control for two intermediate seat 4positions which may for convenience be designated His and Hers it will be understood that the memory system disclosed herein is associated with `a multiple position manually controlled seat adjusting mechanism of the usual type so that the operator or two operators of the vehicle may initially adjust the front seat to the position which best suits them. During such adjustment the rack bars 110 will be in the upper position shown in FIGURE 3 and accordingly, movement of the seat to the adjusted position will eiect movement of the rack -bars il@ out of the eutral position and into a limiting position as determined by abutments thereon engageable with adjacent portions of the housing 16S. The longitudinal movement permitted the rack bars is relatively slight. After the bars have moved to a limiting position, further movement of the seat will have the effect of compressing the spring 1&2 yas a result of movement of one end thereof by the ends yof the recess 9d and s-lot 92. After the seat has been brought into a preselected position, and `assuming that the adjustment has been accomplished by the individual who is lto use the so-called His control switch, then the mechanically `operable means l2() is rotated in the appropriate direction to depress one of the rack bars associated with each of the setting levers 74, '76 or 7S. When the rack bars are dropped to a position in which they release the toothed sectors 98, the sectors immediately return to an intermediate or center position with respect to the disc S6 of the associated setting lever. The manually operated mechanism 129 is then released and the racks move upwardly into meshed engagement with the toothed sectors. At this time the switches controlled by the three His rack bars are open. These switches will be open only when the seat is in the His position and will be closed in one direction or the other at any time when the seat is out of this adjusted position. It may also be noted that when the seat is in the His position all of the Hers switches will be closed in one direction or the other depending on the relative position in each of the three adjustments of the seat chosen for the Hers position.

inasmuch as the present invention has as a primary object to facilitate movement of the seat to a fully lowered and retracted position followed by a restoring movement to a predetermined intermediate operating position, limit switches are provided in association with the memory control device operable to terminate seat movement when the seat, its projection shifts the movable contact of the ass-ociated limit switch out of engagementwith its Astationary contact.

Referring now to FIGURE l1 there is shown the electrical circuit for eiecting movement of the seat from any lintermediate position .to a fully lowered and retracted position, and for returning the seat to either of two preselected intermediate positions. The circuit in gene-ral is connected to the usual manual control circuit eiiected by a manual switch MS having three buttons iMSa, MSb `and MSc which are adapted when depressed to energize the motor 60 in either forward or reverse direction and to connect the appropriate one of the clutch actuating solenoids CS2, CS3 and C84. The memory control device comprises a set of three control switches S1, S2 and S3 which are a part of His control circuit, and three yadditional switches S4, S5 and S6 which are a part of Hers control circuit. The switches S1 through S6 include the intermediate movable contacts Slc, S2c, SSC, S4c, SSC and Sec, normally spaced from the relatively xed pairs of contacts Sla, Slb, and 82a, SZb, etc. These are -the switches which are controlled by movement of the several rack bars 114i. cludes a .-double'pole, single throw retracting switch S7 having contacts S7a and S7b; a Hers manual double pole, single throw switch S8 having contacts 53a and Siib; and ya His single pole, single throw switch S9k having the movable `contact S921. Included in the circuit is a relay Rl adapted t-o be controlled by the contact SSa of the switch S8, this relay having a iirst pair of fixed contacts Rlo and Rlb between which is a movable contact Rlc normally engaged with the contact Rlb; a second pair of stationary contacts Rld Iand Rle between which is a movable contact Rlf normally in -engagement with the stationary contact Rle; and a third pair of stationary contacts Rlg and Rlh between which is a movable contact Rik normal-ly in engagement with the stationary contact Rlh.

Sequencing relays R2, R3 and R4 are provided for eifecting a sequencing control of seat movements as will later appear. The coils of the relays R2, R3 and R4; are sequentially energized in a predetermined program. The `coil of the relay R2 is in series with the contact 89a of the His switch S9, the circuit being completed through this coil to the c-enter movable `contact Rilc. Relay R2 `has a pair of stationary contacts RZa and R25 between which islocated a movable contact RZC normally in engagement with stationary contact R2a. Movable contact RZC` is connected to the contact Stib of the Hers switch S8 and also to the movable Contact S911 of the His switchv S9. Contact R2a is connected through the coil of the. relay R3 to .the center movable contact Rlf of the relay Rl. The relay R3 is provided with a pair of fixed contacts Ra and RSI: between which is a movable contact R3c normally in engagement with the iiXed `contactflillia. is connected' to the stationary contact R251. The stationary contact R3a is connected through Ithe coil of the relay R4 to the movable contact Rllk. Relay R4 is provided with a pair of stationary contacts -R4a and R4!) between which is located a movable contact R40 normally in engagement with the stationary contact. R4a. Stationary contact R4a is notl connected. Y

The control circuit for the motor 60 includes eld windings F1 `and F210 which' circuits may be'completed AIn addition, the circuit in-l The movable cont-act RSC 7 by energization of relays R and R6 respectively, these relays including contacts RSa and R621 respectively. In addition, the motor control circuit includes a rel-ay R7 having a high resistance coil and including normally open contacts R7a adapted to complete a circuit to the armature of the motor. The arrangement is such lthat the relay R7 is energized when either of the iield windings F1 or F2 is energized. Thecircuit through the coil of the relay R7 is completed through one or the other of the field windings F1 or F2, but the current therethrough is negligible due to the high resistance of the coil of the relay R7.

The circuit includes a relay R8 having pairs of stationry contacts RSa, RSI), and R8C, RSd, and RSe, RS. Intermediate stationary contacts R861 and RSI: is a movable contact RSg normally in engagement with stationary contact RSb. Intermediate stationary contacts R8C and RSd is a movable contact R811 normally in engagement with stationary contact Rd. Intermediate stationary contacts RSe and R8]c is a movable contact R8k normally in engagement with stationary contact RSf. The coil of relay R8 is in series with the contact S7b of the retracting switch S7 and a circuit is completed through the coil to ground as lindicated at 140 when the retracting switch S7 is closed.

The circuit includes normally closed single pole, single throw limit switches L2, L3 and L4 including the movable contacts L2a, L3a and L4a adapted to -be moved to a circuit opening positionV by the associated radial projection 130 of the appropriate setting lever 74, 76 or 78. The limit switches L2,.L3 and L4 are respectively in series between contact S717 of the retracting switch S7 and the contacts R811, R8C and RSe respectively of the relay RS.

While the operation of the system is probably apparent from the foregoing, a typical operation will be traced. In this operation it is assumed that the seat is in its fully retracted and lowered position. Accordingly, at this time limit switches L2, L3 and L4 are open, and it is further assumed that the memory control device has been so set that all of the switches S1 through S6 are closed in one direction or Ianother as indicated in the diagram. At this time the His switch S9 is closed. As illustrated in the wiring diagram, it will be necessary for the operator to hold this switch closed until the seat reaches its intermediate adjusted His position. It will be understood however, that if desired a relay and holding circuit may be associated with the His switch S9 in a conventional manner so tha-t only momentary closure by the operator of the His switch S9 is required, the l'circuit being held in until completion 'of the seat adjustment, at which time al1 three of the switches S1, S2 and S3 are open.

Closure of His switch S9 completes a circuit from the battery B through the coil lof the relay R2, through contacts Rlb and Rlc, and thro-ugh contacts Sla and Slc through the coil of relay R5I to ground. This closes the Contact RSa establishing a circuit from the battery through tield windings F1 and the parallel circuit through the relay R7 is energized, thus closing contact R'Ta and establishing a circuit through the armature of the motor.

-Energization of relay R2 shifts the movable contact R into engagement with stationary contact RZb.v A circuit is thus completed from the battery B through contacts 89a, RZC, Rib, RSZ?, RSg, through the windings of the clutch control solenoid CS2 to ground. Thus, the motor is energized in the appropriate direction to bring about a llifting movement of the rear lever 32 `when the rack connected thereto is actuated by the pinion connected through the exible drive connection 166 to the motor 6i). The clutch solenoids C83 and CS4 at this time are not actuated since the sequencing relays R3 and R4 have not been energized.

After appropriate adjustment of the rear lift lever 32 the associated setting lever reaches the preset position.

S at which time the switch S1 opens. This has the effect of breaking the circuit through the relay R2 and also of course oi breaking the circuit to the relay R5. De-energization of relay R2 causes the movable contact RZC to engage fixed contact R251 and a circuit is then completed through the His switch S9, contacts R20, Rza, through the windings of the relay R3, contacts Rle and Rlf, and through the contacts Sic and 82e of the His control switch SZ re-establishing a circuit through the windings of the relay R5 and again energizing the motor 60 in the appropriate direction. At this time the circuit through therear clutch control solenoid CS2 is broken by movement of the movable contact RZC. R3 shifts the movable contact RSC downwardly into engagement with the contact R3b and a circuit is established from the battery through the His switch S9 through contact R20, R24. R30, R3b, RSd, R311, and through the winding of the front clutch control solenoid CSS to ground. This results in actuation of the front lift lever 20 until switch S2 opens, at which time sequencing relay R3 is cle-energized, relay Rd is energized, and appropriate adjustment oi the seat in a fore and aft direction occurs, until finally the switch S3 opens, thus terminating the readjustment of the seat.

It may be mentioned that the Hers control switch S8 includes a contact 58a which energizes the Hers relay Rl which has the eect of shifting the movable contacts Ric, Rif and Rllz thereof from the position shown into f engagement with the stationary contacts Rla, Rld and Rlg respectively. With this difference the operation of the Hers 1re-adjustment circuit is the same as His From the foregoing it will be observed that the seat may be adjusted through the manual control switch MS into either of two desired positions at which time the setting levers will have biased the normally spring centered toothed sectors 9S so that when the three His or Hers rack bars are depressed, the sectors will be spring urged into a predetermined position. Release of the rack bar depressing means permits the rack bars to engage the toothed sectors in the adjusted position.

With the seat in either of the two preset intermediate positions, or in fact any intermediate position, closureof the retracting switch S7 results in a sequenced movement of the seat to fully retracted and lowered position, this adjustment continuing until operation of the motor 60 is terminated by opening of the last of the three limit switches L2, L3 and L4. Upon re-entering the vehicle the operator may depress either the His ork Hers switch S9 or S3 and the seat will be automatically re-adjusted to the predetermined position. y

It will also be observed that if the seat is in the His position for example, as may occur if an occupant gets out of the vehicle without moving the seat to its fully retracted position, it is possible to re-adjust the seat from the Hisposition to the Hers position without requiring it to move through the fully retracted and lowered position.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved memory type automatic seat adjuster in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope ol? which Yis indicated bythe appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. Position responsive means comprising a support, a first member movably mounted on said support, means for moving said member into positions corresponding to positions of an article, a second member movably mounted on said support and movable relative to said first member in opposite directions from a predetermined position relative thereto, resilient means yieldably interconnecting said rst and second members and etiective to urge said second member into the predetermined position relative to said iirst member from positions inleither direction relative thereto, a third member operatively Energization of relay Y associated with said second member, means for selectively coupling said second and third members in different positions relative to said first member, and means for limiting movement of said third member whereby movement of said first member after coupling of said second and third members results iirst in limited movement of said third member and thereafter in relative movement between said iirst and second members.

2. Structure as defined in claim 1 in which said first and second members are pivotally mounted on said support, and said second and third members have intermeshing teeth to eiiect the coupling aforesaid.

3. Seat position responsive means for an adjustable vehicle seat comprising a support, a plurality of tirst members movably mounted on said support, connecting means between each of said members and the vehicle seat to cause movement of said members in response to seat adjustment, a plurality of second members on said support movable thereon relative to said first members in opposite directions from a predetermined position relative thereto, resilient means connecting each of said tirst members to one of said second members for urging said one second member into the predetermined position relative to the first member to which it is connected from positions in either direction relative thereto, a plurality of third members movable on said support between restricted limits, and means for selectively coupling and uncoupling said second and third members in diterent positions of said iirst members.

4. Seat position responsive means for an ladjustable vehicle seat comprising a support, a plurality of first members movably mounted on said support, connecting means between each of said members and the vehicle seat to cause movement of said members in response to seat adjustment, a plurality of second members on said support movable thereon relative to said iirst members, resilient means connecting each of said first members to a pair of said second members, a plurality of third members movable on said support between restricted limits, and means for selectively coupling and uncoupling said second and third members in different positions of said iirst members.

5. A memory control system for a power vehicle seat having a plurality of adjusting mechanisms for adjusting the vehicle seat vertically and horizontally and motor means for selectively operating said mechanisms, said system comprising means including a single manual switch operable to cause the motor and adjusting mechanisms to move said seat to a fully lowered and rearward retracted position, means operable upon full retraction of said seat to terminate operation of said motor and mechanisms, means including a single manual switch operable to cause the motor and adjusting mechanisms to move said seat to an intermediate preset position from any intermediate position thereof, and means including settaible positions responsive switches operable to terminate seat movement when said seat is restored to the preset position.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 which comprises a manually operable member effective when operated to set said position responsive switches to the position occupied by the seat when said manually operated member is operated.

7. In a memory seat control system for a vehicle seat having motor means for adjusting said seat vertically and horizontally, means for controlling the motor means including a yfirst `single control element movable to a single position by an occupant of the vehicle and operable to control 'the motor means to move the seat to fully down and back retracted position for unloading, said control means also including a second single control element movable to a single position by an occupant of the vehicle and operable to control the motor means to move the seat to a selected intermediate position from any intermediate position thereof, and a third control element movable to a single position and effective to elimil0 nate a former pre-selected intermediate position and to establish the position occupied by the seat at that instant as the new selected intermediate position.

8. In a memory seat control system for a vehicle seat having motor means for adjusting said seat vertically and horizontally, means for controlling the motor means including a first single control eiement nrovalble to a single position by an occupant or the vehicle and operable to control the motor means to move the seat to fully down and back retracted position for unloading, said control means also including a second single control element movable to one of two positions by an occupant of the vehicle and operable to control the motor means to move the seat to one of two selected intermediate posiftions from any intermediate position of said seat, and a third control element movable to either of two positions and effective to eliminate a form-er pre-selected intermediate position and to establish the position occupied by [the sea-t at that instant as a new one of two intermediate positions.

9. Position responsive means comprising a support, a disc member pivotally mounted on said support and connected to an article for pivotal movement with respect to said support in accordance with the position of the article, a limit switch opera-bly associated with said disc member for actuation thereby on the article reaching a predetermined limiting position, a toothed sector also pivotally mounted on said support concentric with and adjacent one Side `of the disc member for angular movement relative to said disc member, resilient means entirely supported by and acting between said toothed sector and disc member for biasing the toothed sector and disc member into a predetermined relative position from relative angular positions in either direction from the predetermined position, and Ia rack mounted on said support for limited sliding movement relative thereto and releasably engaged with said toothed sector for limited sliding movement with respect to said support on pivoting of said disc member, and a normally open switch associated with said rack for actuation thereby and operable to be closed in all but a preselected position of said disc member.

10. Structure as claimed in claim 9 'wherein said disc member includes an arcuate groove in the one side adjacent said toothed sector, said toothed sector includes an arcuate slot therethrough alignable with said arcuate groove with said disc and sector-in said predetermined relative position and the resilient means comprises a cylindrical spring positioned partly within said slot and partly within said groove.

ll. Structure as claimed in claim l0l and further including means for varying the relative engaged positions of said toothed sector and rack comprising a rotatably mounted cylinder having a transverse slot therein for receiving the rack and an abutment within the slot engageable with rthe rack Ion rotation of the cylinder in a predetermined direction.

l2. in a resettable positioning device for controlling the operation of a power operated seat mechanism for moving a seat horizontally and raising and lowering the front and rear of lthe seat independently, a housing, first, second and third camming elements pivotally mounted Within said housing, means :adapted to actuate said cammi-ng elements in response to the horizontai, rear vertical and front vertical movement of the seat respectively, iirst, second and third gear sector members pivotally mounted within the housing and spring connected to the first, second and third camming elements respectively so as to normally pivot therewith, iirst, second and third looking ingers mounted within said housing in a manner to permit limi-ted linear movement thereof and engaging the teeth of the i'irst, second and third gear sector members respectively to limit `the pivoting thereof in either direction with the camming elements, each locking iinger being spring biased in one direction or the other as loing as the camming element associated therewith is not in the same angular position as the gear sector element associated therewith, iirst, second and third electrical switches mounted within said housing adjacent each of the locking. ngers respectively, each of said switches comprising a rst and second xed contact with a movable blade contact therebetween, each movable blade Contact being engaged by the lirst, second and third locking fingers respectively so as to be positioned midway between the lfixed contacts when the locking iinger is not under a spring bias and to be in contact with either the first or second xed contact when the locking finger is spring biased in either direction, said positioning device determining the movement of the horizontal, rear vertical and front vertical position of the seat mechanism controlled by the position of the tirst, second and third movable blade contacts respectively.

13. A resettable positioning device for controlling the operation of a power operated seat mechanism comprising a housing, a plurality of carnming elements and gear sector members pivotally mounted within said housing, each of said gear sector members being resiliently connected to one of said camming elements for movement therewith, locking means for releasably engaging the teeth of the gear sector members in a manner to limit their movement with the camming elements in either direction, reset means for disengaging and engaging said locking means with the gear sector members, a plurality of electrical switches mounted within said housing each adapted to be actuated in response to the limited movement of one of the gear sector members, means for connecting each of said camming elements for movement in response to a predetermined direction of movement of said seat mechanism, and control means responsive to the position of the electrical switches for controlling the actuation of said mechanism.

14. A resettable positioning device for controlling the operation of a power operated seat mechanism comprising a housing, a plurality of camming elements and gear sector members pivotally mounted within said housing, each of said gear sector members being spring connected to one of said camming elements for movement therewith, a plurality of locking fingers mounted within said housing in a manner to permit limited movement thereof, each of said locking ngers being adapted to engage the teeth of one of said gear sector members to limit the movement thereof to the movement of the locking nger, reset means for raising and lowering said locking fingers to disengage and engage the locking fingers from the teeth of the gear sector members, a plurality of electrical switches mounted within said housing each comprising two spaced apart contacts with a movable blade contact therebetween, each of said blade contacts being connected to one of said locking iingers so as to be actuated between the two contacts associated therewith by the limited longitudinal movement of the locking finger, means adapted to connect each of said camming elements for movement in response to predetermined directions of movement of said seart mechanism, and control means responsive to the position of said switches for controlling the actuation of said mechanism.

15. A rese-ttable positioning device for controlling the operation of a power operated seat mechanism comprising a housing, a plurality of camming elements pivotally mounted within said housing, a gear sector member pivotally mounted within said housing on either side of each of the camming elements, spring means connecting each of said gear sector members to the adjacent camming element for movement therewith, two groups ot locking Afingers mounted within said housing in a manner to permit limited linear movement thereof, one group of locking fingers engaging the teeth of the gear sector members on one side of the camming elements and the other group of locking iingers engaging the teeth onV the other side of the camming elements to limit the pivoting thereof, reset means for raising and lowering each group of the locking lingers to disengage and engage them with the teeth of the gear sector members, two groups of electrical switches disposed within said housing each adapted to be actuated by the limited linear movement of one of the locking fingers of a corresponding group of locking fingers, means adapted to connect each of said camming elements for movement in response to a predetermined direction of movement of said seat mechanism, and electrical switch means adapted to initiate the actuation of said seat mechanism controlled by the position of the electrical switches of each group.

16. The subject matter as claimed in claim 15 wherein each of said switches comprises two spaced apart ixed contacts with a movable blade contact therebetween, the movable blade contact engaging one of the fixed contacts when the locking finger associated therewith is spring biased in one direction and engaging the other fixed contact when the looking finger is spring biased in the other direction, the blade contact assuming a neutral position between the fixed contacts when the locking nger is not spring biased in either direction.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,720,619 James Oct. 1.1, 1955 2,805,702 Appleton Sept. 10, 1957V 2,823,949 Williams et al. Feb. 18, 1958 y2,827,105 Brundage Mar. 18, 1958 2,829,002 Leavingood et al. Apr. 1, 1958 2,886,094 Pickles May 12, 1959 

1. POSITION RESPONSIVE MEANS COMPRISING A SUPPORT, A FIRST MEMBER MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MEMBER INTO POSITIONS CORRESPONDING TO POSITIONS OF AN ARTICLE, A SECOND MEMBER MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT AND MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST MEMBER IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM A PREDETERMINED POSITION RELATIVE THERETO, RESILIENT MEANS YIELDABLY INTERCONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS IN DIFFERENT POSITO URGE SAID SECOND MEMBER INTO THE PREDETERMINED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST MEMBER FROM POSITIONS IN EITHER DIRECTION RELATIVE THERETO, A THIRD MEMBER OPERATIVELY ASSOCITED WITH SAID SECOND MEMBER, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY COUPLING SAID SECOND AND THIRD MEMBER IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR LIMITING MOVEMENT OF SAID THIRD MEMBER WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST MEMBER AFTER COUPLING OF SAID SECOND AND THIRD MEMBERS RESULTS FIRST IN LIMITED MOVEMENT OF SAID THIRD MEMBER AND THEREAFTER IN RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS. 